Icon of the Seas is also the cruise line’s first ship that can be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), a transitional fuel
After over seven years since it was conceived and over 900 days of design and construction by thousands of experts, Royal Caribbean International says its latest ship, Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, has joined the fleet.
Stretching to a length of 365 m and with 20 decks and weighing 250,800 gross tonnes, the ship towers over the cruise ship. It has over 2,800 guest cabins of various sizes and along with the crew will have 9,950 persons on board.
In a press statement, Royal Caribbean says that over 1200 crew members and workers, as well as Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley and Meyer Turku CEO Tim Meyer, were present at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland where the ship has been built.
Jason Liberty
“Today, we are celebrating more than a new ship; it’s also the celebration of the culmination of more than 50 years of innovation and dreaming at Royal Caribbean to create the ultimate vacation experience,” says Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group.
“Delivering Icon of the Seas represents all that can be accomplished with strong partnerships and a commitment to delivering memorable vacations responsibly, and we thank Meyer Turku and an incredible village of skilled partners for joining us on this journey. The memories millions of families and vacationers will make on Icon will be our greatest accomplishment yet,” Liberty adds.
The statement adds that the transfer of ownership, commonly known as the delivery of a new ship, between Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku also commemorated the series of never-before-seen feats accomplished during more than two years of construction.
From the installation of the Aquadome, the single largest glass and steel structure to be lifted onto a cruise ship to engineering more water on board than ever before with seven pools as well as seven waterslides.
Now, Icon of the Seas will sail from Turku to Cadiz, Spain, where the cruise line will start to put the finishing touches on the world’s best vacation before it heads to Miami.
Michael Bayley
“Welcoming Icon of the Seas to the Royal Caribbean family is a remarkable accomplishment years in the making for thousands of innovators, engineers, architects and designers. Seven years ago, we had an ambitious idea to create the first vacation truly made for every type of family and adventurer; now, it is in our hands, and in this final stretch, we’ll bring it all to life for the biggest debut in our history in January 2024,” says Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International.
The statement adds thatb whether “family vacation” means getting away as a family, couple or friends, the ship’s all-encompassing lineup features firsts of all kinds on board, including eight neighbourhoods. There are over 40 restaurants and bars on board and cutting-edge entertainment across the cruise line’s four signature stages, viz air, ice, water and theatre.
The ship also comes with 28 different ways to stay, including the new three-level Ultimate Family Townhouse, where even the rooms are thoughtfully designed for every type of vacationer.
The statement adds that five brand-new neighbourhoods and three reimagined favourites are destinations in themselves filled with a variety of experiences, live entertainment, restaurants and bars.
The cruise operator says that Icon of the Seas is also the cruise line’s first ship that can be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), a transitional fuel. The dual-fuel engines will work alongside a lineup of energy efficiency initiatives and industry-leading environmental programmes on board, like the first waste-to-energy plant at sea.
As it is 24 pc more energy efficient than the standards required for ships being designed today the cruise line’s most sustainable ship yet will mark the next step in parent company Royal Caribbean Group’s journey to introduce a net-zero cruise ship by 2035, says the statement.
When the ship debuts in January, 2024, it will sail 7-night Eastern or Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami, visiting Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay. Itineraries are available on Royal Caribbean website for booking.
Despite having plenty of staterooms, vacations on this massive floating resort won’t be cheap. The cheapest sailing in 2024 begins at USD 1820 per person for seven nights an interior stateroom. The three-storey stateroom can be had for USD 75,000 a week.
